Great location and the staff (Tani and Laura) made the stay truly memorable. Not only did they book the Uffizi and Accademia in advance, they also booked a hotel in Venice and helped us with all of our plans (restaurants and museums) in Florence. Best of all, they were accommodating, knowledgeable and fun. Room was very nice and surprisingly quiet for being only steps from the Duomo.
With a one minute walk to the Duomo, the location of the Perso can't be bettered. Add to that a level of personal service that you simply can't get in the larger 'posh' hotels and you've got the makings of a great stay in Florence.
The hotel was renovated a year or two ago and the comfortable rooms have a modern feel to them - flat screen TV mounted on the wall, individual air conditioning units and trendy bathrooms.
Our room at the back of the building was peaceful and had a typical Florentine view across the red tiled rooftops.
Breakfast was fine, with good Italian coffee, although the breakfast room is a little soul-less. But who wants to hang around at breakfast when Florence is calling!
Another reviewer mentioned the entrance off the street and the need to take the lift to the 3rd floor. Yes, as you walk off the street you might think "Oo-er" but it's fairly typical in Florence -- a lot of the smaller hotels are situated above the shops so the reception is on the 3rd floor. Just take the lift (max 2 persons!) and you're greeted by charming, helpful staff in a lovely, modern reception.
Definitely the best Florence hotel we've stayed in, and we've visited often in the past 5 years.
A nice hotel, very closely located to the duomo and other major attractions. Helpful staff, good breakfast. The room was smallish but in good condition. Very comfortable. Sadly, no internet access.
Hotel Perseo has two overwhelming positives which outweigh the negatives which we also experienced.
I'll get the negative stuff out of the way first. The entrance to the hotel is pretty grim and the reception is on the third floor. Lift can be slow and my GF said she felt a little uneasy taking the stairs at night. We were also woken up a few times at night by the plumbing or AC or something.
Now to the positives....the staff could not have been more friendly or helpful. They booked museums, restaurants etc. for us and gave great advice about transport and other useful tips. Nothing was too much trouble for them and everthing was handled with a smile.
Also, the location is a stones throw from the Duomo and the train station, and the rooms are very clean and modern.
I would certainly stay here again despite the downsides mentioned.
The conceirge here was enormously helpful in making all the reservations for the museums here - including the Uffizi. You MUST make reservations during the season and the hotel (with a set of times we wanted to go where and alternates) did all this for us. We simply could not have gotten to all the places we wanted to without their help. (And we did not need to buy tickets from the scalpers either).
The hotel is very well located - a short block from the Duomo, a short walk from the train station.
The only negatives: breakfast is more modest than some hotels (they don't run a full kitchen) and the ground floor entrance is somewhat dreary. (The hotel occupies 2 floor several flights up.) Once in a while the elevator is held open for a minute and taes time to arrive.
The hotel is very reasonably priced; rooms are small-ish but very nicely decorated and comfortable. All in all the hotel is excellent value, and their help in arranging our museum visits was simply invaluable.
My wife and I spend a few wonderful days at the end of September at Hotel Il Perseo. We discovered a refresingly intimate small hotel, tucked in between typical Florence shop facades and in earshot from the exuisite Duomo and all its wonderful sights and sounds. Do not be fooled by the ordinary and understated entrance, although nothing in Florence is ordinary one must add, this one leads you to a small elevator and a very simple third floor entrance lobby. You will be met by either Laura or Tani at front desk, always available and eager to assit. A small brightly coloured breakfeast area welcomes you every morning to help you kick start your busy day....and in Florence you have to start early....so much to see!!
We have been around a bit and have stayed at 'posh' places, but for excellent value, exceedingly friendly service, spacious and airy rooms and just good honest people you will have to travel far and wide to find beter.
We absolutely loved it and in our book Il Perseo is the best small hotel in Florence!! We can't wait to go back!
Japie and Joyce Kemp, Paarl, South Africa
